I have a general question for folks here on the board regarding yellow flags and restarts. Down here in Houston, the trend these days is to make judgement calls on the track. Often when a car spins out, they stop and bring out the yellow, instead of getting back on the track and race. More often than not, these cars get their position back, and a car that was percieved to have made contact then goes to the rear on the restart. Of course this then plays out to grumblings of favoritism, draws out an evening's show because of the numerous yellows, and then the lobbying of the "penalized" driver to maintain his position.

In recent postings to Houston area racing boards, some drivers have even gone so far as stating that anyone making contact with the lead car automatically goes to the back of the field on the ensuing restart.

This attitude here isn't just limited to the pure/hobby/street/bomber stock guys, either. I have seen the same thing with during modified racing, too.

My question is, just when did this happen? I seem to recall that when a driver stopped on the track, for any reason, they went to the back if they brought out a yellow. Am I missing something? I don't seem to recall seeing this type of thing when I am up in Indiana, but I don't always pay attention to the classes other than sprints.

Anyway, just wondering.

You've witnessed the dreaded "judgement call"-IMO the worst thing to happen in racing since the wheel was round. All the tracks around KY, WV, some in OH, and probably IN do that. Except in southern OH, we (sprints) always mandate that we're not doing that crap! Luckily, now the two weekly southern Ohio sprint tracks are owned by sprint car owners.

Okay, it isn't just me then. I mention it to our team members (modifieds) and I am looked at like I am an alien when I get pissed that someone who delays a race (intentionally) is rewarded with getting their place back. And then the folks wonder why they are racing until one in the morning and the stands are empty.

I just wonder when it happened, though. I guess it was progressive; but the past two seasons, it seems to be the norm here at all Houston area tracks.

send em away to the pits...if they stop on purpose

Quarter Midget Racing has been like this for years.

It also goes right along with childrens games where the score isn't kept and schools that don't have any wrong answers and you are not graded on your knowledge in fear of students that develop low self esteem issues.

Just like many things, the more you try and keep things "fair"; the more complicated and "unfair" it becomes. It's a joke in my opinion.

THE WAY IT SHOULD BE ---- IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN OR CREAT THE YELLOW YOU SHOULD GO TO THE TAIL ---- END OF STORY ---- :angry-smiley-007:

I think that on the rare occasion a judgement call is ok. Say a guy is leading the race easily, then the second place car hauls it in to the corner and drills the guy in the LR. There was no way second was gonna make the pass much less get through the corner. In that instance I believe the leader should not be penalized because someone else took a cheap shot at him. Give him the lead back, if he can continue that is.

These should be rare occurences. If two guys are racing tight and get together with one or both spinning... to the tail they both go.

JMO.

To me, the only exception to everyone going to the tail should be for blatant rough driving (like David Gilliland on Sunday)-then the victim should get his spot back if he can still race, and possibly the aggressor get his ass kicked, too. Aside from that and stopping for a safety issue, like something on the track-if you stop, you should go to the tail.

When it no longer becomes a black & white rule, it is open to enterpretation.

On a side note, one thing that they always preach at the Skyline drivers meetings is if you're leading and there are several restarts, they want the leader to always hit the throttle at the same place! That kills me! That is part of the strategy of leading the race-keep them guessing when you're going to go! If they're so concerned about someone restarting on the backstretch, then put out a couple cones like L'burg and say the leader can go anywhere in between.

The problem with that is, in my view, who determines what blatant is?

Cmakin, you're right.

I guess I was thinking more along the lines of if the second place guy sends the first place car flipping off into the next county, then the punter should either go to the tail or just be parked.